REGARDING PAUL HACKETT - JUMP FOR JOY!

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.raisingkaine.com/blog/?p=583

For those of you who haven’t been following this race, Hackett is trying to become the first Iraq war combat veteran elected to Congress. He and his opponent, Jean Schmidt, are vying to replace Rep. Rob Portman, whose heavily Republican district (President Bush won 64% of the vote in November) opened up when Bush appointed him U.S. trade representative back in March.

As one Ohio blog puts it:

However this turns out today, Hackett’s campaign has given 2006 Democrats an effective blueprint–anti-war, anti-corruption, anti-stupid; pro individual freedom, pro shared responsibility, pro smart, strong defense; and maybe most important, strong netroots support ( the DCCC didn’t even know this race was going on until the blogs got excited about it ) . If Hackett comes within five points of Schmidt, it’s a proven blueprint. If he wins in the OH-2, it’s the Holy Grail.

...more...

Final results:

US HOUSE Ohio 2nd Dist
753 precincts of 753 reporting

JEAN SCHMIDT 57,974 52% (W)
PAUL HACKETT 54,401 48%

...that's 4% by my math...

Thank you, Mr. Hackett. You'll be back. So will we.

[Luminous Animal]

1. Does anybody know

Bush's numbers in the same district? I saw them earlier but I can't find them now. Already the trolls have showed up on my board claiming victory. I'd love to counteract with information about badly, despite the win, the Republicans actually lost.

[theHandpuppet]

2. See dsc's post on the Home Page

The figures are all there.

[madrchsod]

3. that is pretty dam good results

if anyone came that close in my district--fat denny hastert`s---we would be ecstatic...

[kodi]

4. do not forget hackett gained rural support due to his 2nd amendment stance

reviewing the polls, hackett gained in the rural areas where dems have been clobbered in the past on gun issues.

howard dean was prescient 18 months ago by calling for taking back this issue for the dems. it is apparent that to win in the rural areas the dems will have to decide to let the states and local governments decide on this issue. it removes from the board a key wedge the GOP has used to drive rural folk away from voting their pocketbooks.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. I agree with Hackett on guns

When I was a little younger I used to be very pro-gun protection but now I've changed my views and it's in the Constiution so why not? All I ask is you be responsible and take responsibility if something happens to hurt someone else.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. How could ANY Republican in the country be pro war and anti veteran?

The Iraq war has become a proven disaster. I'd like to share in your optimism but I think we're facing a mindset that will vote for any Republican and vote against any Democrat, no matter who or what the candidates and realities are. Only heavy deprogramming is going to change these cult followers.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. The only reason why they are against Hackett

is because he's not a republican and he's speaking the truth about Iraq and he called Bush a chicken hawk on national TV and stud by it and on Rhandi's show yesterday called Bush an SOB apparently. If Hackett was an Iraq veteran running as a republican who loved the war he'd be treated differently. It happens all the time. See the 1971 Vietnam vets protesting. They were treated the same way.

[KharmaTrain]

6. A Lot Of Great Lessons Learned Here

Sadly the expectations game bit a few...but for me the fact a relative unknown came so close to beating a well-entrenched political operation is truly something that's worth feeling good about, but now there's a lot more to do.

IMHO the difference came with those who didn't come out for the national Repugnican party or anything meester booosh stands for...they came out for their local...the person they've known and voted for for years. While Hackett makes a very attractive candidate (and I'd love to see him look at the Senate seat in '06), he wasn't as known, didn't have as many friends, IOUs and other chits that a well-entrenched pol has. Many of these poor fools voted against their best interests last night, but they did it for their local...the person who represents the guys who fix the roads, pick up the garbage and run the local government of the area.

My concern is now that the race is over, so is any Democratic presence in Ohio-2 other than Paul Hackett. To expect to turn the worm in such a short period of time...even with 10 times more money or 1000 more people still might not have made much of a difference.

However, the good news is how an anti-war, straight shooting politician can energize and bring a lot of people together. Hackett's message may not have carried the night in Claremont County, but if it's spread and refined and worked over the next 14 months, it could make the difference in 10 or 15 House races.

Congrats to all involved with the Hackett campaign and the netroots.

[TheWraith]

7. Damn, this completely snuck up on me.

I didn't realize that it was a special election. I never even got around to harassing my Republican friend who lives in the district. Oh well. There's alway 2006.

[anarchy1999]

10. Will? Are you going to write a piece for the Veterans For Peace?

I hope you can find the time.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Yep

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4252119

[Walt Starr]

12. Paul Hackett for the U.S. Senate from Ohio!

He can beat the crap out of Dewine.

[eridani]

13. You forgot the most important lesson

I don't believe the results myself. They are certainly plausible, and might even be true. But Clermont County is where people were caught putting stickers over punch holes for Kerry in Nov. 2004, and Warren County is where there was no oversight whatsoever of the counting process because they put our a fake terror alert. If you believe that similar crap was not pulled against Hackett, I have a bridge to sell you. A full audit might still have resulted in a narrow loss, but I refuse to believe any result that doesn't have one.